What is Lemon8? A Lemon8 App Review for Parents in 2025
In response to the possibility that TikTok will be banned in the US this year, Bytedance has launched a sister app to TikTok called Lemon8, a “lifestyle” platform where people can share their love of food, health, fashion, travel, and more. While the interface is essentially a copy of TikTok, the content has been described as a mix of Instagram and Pinterest.
Lemon8 seems to be showing up more and more on our social media feeds, so we thought it was time to give it a solid parent review! We’ll talk about content, safety, and more – let’s get started!
What is Lemon8?
Lemon8 is a social media platform developed by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. It combines elements of a lifestyle app and a content-sharing platform, focusing on photo and video-based content similar to Instagram, but with a stronger emphasis on user-generated content and community engagement.
- Content Categories: Focuses on niches like fashion, beauty, wellness, travel, food, and lifestyle. Users can share tips, reviews, and inspiration within these categories.
- Photo and Video Editing Tools: Advanced in-app editing tools for creating visually appealing posts, including filters, text overlays, and design elements.
- Algorithm-Driven Discovery: : Leverages ByteDance’s algorithm expertise (similar to TikTok’s For You Page) to recommend personalized content to users.
- Engagement and Community: Encourages meaningful interactions through comments, likes, and community-based discussions.
- Shopping Features (in some regions): Integrates e-commerce functionalities where users can discover and shop products directly from posts.
- Target Audience: Particularly popular among Gen Z and millennials interested in creative and visually-driven social experiences.
- Availability: Lemon8 launched in several markets, including Japan and Southeast Asia, before expanding to the U.S. and other global regions. It is available for iOS and Android devices.
How Does Lemon8 Work?
When signing up, Lemon8 asks you to share your preferred pronouns, birth year, email or phone number, and select some of your interests.
Users can post pictures and videos very similar to Instagram, and you can also add posts to your “collections,” which function similarly to Pinterest “boards.” You can also find and share posts and collections by searching and exploring on the platform. Using and searching for hashtags is very important on this app, and can lead to finding inappropriate content.
All of this makes Lemon8 feel like a mix of multiple social media features — a feed like Instagram, “boards” like Pinterest, hashtags like every social network.
Is Lemon8 Safe for Kids?
Lemon8 allows users to send DMs to each other, which is a serious red flag and could lead to strangers messaging your child. Users can also communicate through post comments. Therefore, the risk of predation on Lemon8 is extremely high.
Lemon8 doesn’t allow you to set your account to private, and anything you post will be public, which can be pushed to your child through automatic browsing.
In addition, the app allows you to link your other social media accounts and your phone number, which can allow strangers to contact your child and communicate with them privately if your child uses Lemon8.
Does Lemon8 Have Any Parental Controls?
Lemon8 offers limited parental controls. The app has introduced a “Supervision” feature that allows parents to supervise an account, primarily enabling them to set the account to private. However, this feature doesn’t filter or restrict the content that the supervised user can access; it only limits who can view the user’s posts.
Beyond this, Lemon8 lacks comprehensive parental control options. There are no built-in features to limit screen time, filter content, or monitor interactions within the app. Given these limitations, parents are encouraged to use external tools or applications to monitor and manage their child’s activity on Lemon8.
It’s also important to note that all posts on Lemon8 are publicly visible by default, and the app does not provide options to make an account private, limit who can comment or follow, or make the account undiscoverable. This lack of privacy settings means that parents need to be vigilant and proactive in overseeing their child’s use of the platform.
Bonus Tip: Download Lemon8 Videos with iDownerGo
Looking to save your favorite Lemon8 videos for offline viewing? iDownerGo is the perfect tool for downloading high-quality videos effortlessly. Whether you want to archive content for inspiration or share it with friends, iDownerGo makes the process quick and easy.
Step 1 Launch iDownerGo and set your preferred output format and resolution, such as MP4 in 1080p .
Step 2 Navigate to the Lemon8 app via iDownerGo’s built-in browser. Log in to your account if necessary and find the video you want to download.
Step 3 Click the “Download” button, and the video will be saved to your device automatically.
Step 4 Go to the “Downloaded” section of iDownerGo to access your downloaded videos and enjoy them offline anytime.
Conclusion
Lemon8 provides a unique and refreshing approach to social media by focusing on lifestyle and creativity. With its intuitive features, supportive community, and dedication to quality content, it’s an ideal platform for those looking to explore their creative passions. Additionally, tools like iDownerGo make it easy to save and enjoy your favorite Lemon8 videos offline, ensuring you never miss out on the inspiring content you love. Dive into Lemon8 and unlock a world of creativity and meaningful connections!
